I often receive questions about chiropractic care in pregnancy and whether adjustments are possible during this period. Many future mothers wonder about the safety and benefits of chiropractic care during this transformative time. Long story short – Yes. Pregnant ladies can enjoy chiropractic care, and they can benefit a lot from it. It’s even recommended for better mobility of the joints for the upcoming birth.
How I Got to Providing Chiropractic Care in Pregnancy
I still remember how I started working with pregnant ladies, and it’s actually a funny story. When I opened my first practice in St. Louis, Missouri, my hometown, my office was located on the lower level of the Dominic Michael Salon – a high-end salon that catered primarily to women and was employed by mostly women, with the exception of a few fabulously dressed men.
To cultivate a relationship, I invited their stylists down for regular neck and thoracic adjustments – anyone who works with their arms out extended for prolonged periods as stylists do is in need of such relief. Suffice to say, they were more than grateful. The adjustments always brought a smile to their face, particularly when it came to thoracic adjustments. As a result, they began referring their clients to me – some of whom were pregnant.
They asked if there was anything chiropractic could do for some of the aches and pains that are common in pregnancy, especially when it’s the first pregnancy. I explained the Webster technique, a chiropractic technique specifically designed to accommodate all the changes that women’s bodies will undergo during pregnancy.
I also told them about a professor I had at Logan University who actually had the audacity (and expertise to guarantee women that, with his care, they would deliver in under three hours!). Who wouldn’t be intrigued, right?
Soon, half my day was spent working with pregnant women, adding motion to the joints of the pelvis, allowing the pelvic bowl to expand properly so the baby has plenty of room to drop into position when he or she is ready to see the world.
How Chiropractic Care Helps Pregnant Women?
Pregnancy is hard. I am speaking from the doctor’s perspective and the experience I had with a lot of pregnant patients during the course of my chiropractic practice. It’s a very challenging time, especially for first-time moms, since it’s very hard to know what to anticipate.
Even women who have gone through pregnancy before know how much it takes a toll on the body and mind. Pregnant women are facing daily changes and discomforts, and I am glad to be able to help alleviate some of the pain they are experiencing.
Chiropractic care addresses the physical changes that a growing baby does to the mom’s body. As the bump gets bigger, the center of gravity shifts as well. Posture isn’t the same – the way pregnant women walk, there’s plenty of opportunities for misalignments that will cause unnecessary discomfort.
Through careful manipulation and the Webster technique, a knowledgeable chiropractor can reduce the stress on the lower back, help with pelvic and joint pain, and enhance the mom’s overall comfort.
Chiropractic Webster Technique for Pregnant Women
Webster technique is a specialized chiropractic technique for pregnant women aiming to improve the mobility of the mom’s body, bring enhanced pain relief in problematic areas, position the baby properly before birth, and foster easier and faster labor.
When there is pain and discomfort in the pelvis, the baby might not occupy the intrauterine space properly, which might mean the baby is lying sideways or is in a breech position. By working on aligning the joints, pelvic ligaments, and muscles, a chiropractor can bring relief and help reposition the baby.
If we take into consideration that around 50% of all pregnant women experience back pain, and 50-75% experience it during labor, it’s evident why many women could benefit from chiropractic treatments. It’s also reported that pregnant women who seek chiropractic help have 25-31% shorter labor times!
The Webster technique focuses on creating a safe environment for the baby to drop naturally head down when the mom’s pelvis is in a neutral position and prepare for the upcoming birth.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care For Pregnant Women
Chiropractic care during pregnancy can help alleviate plenty of common discomforts associated with this state, such as back pain, pelvic pain, and sciatica. It is a non-invasive, drug-free approach, making it a safe option for most pregnant women and their babies. Let’s delve into more benefits of chiropractic care for pregnant ladies and the problems it can treat.
Alleviated Back Pain
Spinal adjustment and mobilization works wonders for pregnant women experiencing back pain. A chiropractor realigns the spine, which, in turn, will reduce the pressure on nerves and muscles in the back.
Reduced Pelvic Pain
A balanced pelvis can prevent the uncomfortable “torquing” effect, which often contributes to pelvic pain during pregnancy. The Webster technique aims to correct sacral misalignment, balancing pelvic muscles and ligaments. This reduces tension in the pelvic area that many pregnant women suffer from. After all, reports show the positive effects of manual and chiropractic therapy for reducing pain intensity.
Effective Sciatica Treatment
A growing baby in the uterus puts a lot of pressure on the sciatic nerve, which often causes sciatica in pregnant women. Webster technique, spinal and pelvic adjustments can reduce pressure and inflammation and increase joint mobility by correcting subluxations (misalignments) of the sciatic nerve.
Decreased Joint Pain
Many pregnant women suffer from joint pain, thinking it’s the added baby weight causing this. The truth is that hormonal changes during pregnancy can lead to loosened ligaments and joints, causing this discomfort. Maintaining joint mobility helps manage joint pain through gentle adjustments and soft tissue therapy by reducing tissue inflammation.
Reducing Labor Time
Doctors always advise proper stretching and gentle exercises during pregnancy, and the idea behind it is to increase overall mobility. Chiropractic adjustments throughout the pregnancy can reduce labor time by keeping the pelvis and spine well-aligned, allowing for more efficient contractions.
Faster Postpartum Recovery
Postpartum discomforts last until the body returns to its pre-pregnancy state. With proper postnatal chiropractic care in this sensitive period, moms will feel less pain, and the adjustments will help them achieve a quicker recovery.
Postural Changes in Pregnancy
Bad posture misaligns the entire body on its own, but that effect is much more evident in pregnancy. The body will naturally compensate and adjust its posture to maintain balance and mobility with the pregnancy progression. It has to accommodate fetal growth by the shifting weight and changing shape, which affects the mom’s posture.
Some of the most common postural problems in pregnancy include increased risk of lumbar lordosis, pelvic tilt, changes in women’s gait, upper back and shoulder pain, joint instability, and altered center of gravity. Luckily, with proper chiropractic treatment, all postural changes that occur during pregnancy can be successfully treated by a licensed chiropractor.
Spinal adjustments performed by a knowledgeable chiropractor can reduce the pain, while postural education can help women maintain good posture and distribute the weight more evenly.
InsideOut Wellness Chiropractic Treatments During Pregnancy
At InsideOut Wellness, we firmly believe that pregnancy doesn’t have to be as discomforting as many moms deem it to be, not when you have the right support and personalized approach that adapts to every change you will experience during this state.
If you find yourself in Singapore and in need of chiropractic care while pregnant, you will be happy to know that I have been certified in the Webster technique. Together, we can strengthen your pelvic floor, get rid of the pain, and help you have an easier pregnancy as well as birth.
